Money Control published an article on April 1 that explores a growing trend among U.S. students relocating to major European cities (from Rome to Dublin and London) in response to President Donald Trump’s challenging higher education policies. Indeed, a report by the Financial Times says academics are actively pursuing dual citizenship, feeling threatened by ongoing political shifts that have consequently brought damage to the sector, from cuts in science funding to crackdowns on immigration. A strike against intellectual freedom and cultural exchanges. That’s the reason why many American researchers are looking for new opportunities abroad.
Among these:
● Jason Stanley, who felt disappointed by Columbia University’s response to the government reforms.
● Timothy Snyder, who relocated to Toronto after threats to American democracy.
● Marci Shore, who is planning her future upon Trump’s new re-election.
As the piece unfolds, it highlights a trend that reflects a broader academic exodus, drawing attention of International institutions, from universities in Switzerland to France, that are suggesting American students to leave the country. Paradoxically, this social phenomenon is attracting support from everywhere, even from the Kyiv School of Economics, showing the most destructive wars are often the silent ones.
As seen at the beginning, Trump’s government is full of contradictions and one of the major problems is political interference combined with threats to scientific integrity. Many Influential anti-vaccine figures were leading campaigns to delegitimize an entire field, spreading fears around research developments (just like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did).
This reform impacts International students the most, but the feature claims U.S. citizens are facing an internal crisis as well. The most common request appears to be for help from immigration channels capable of sustaining remote investment in research. In the end, what emerges is a political war that is putting at risk both the right of education and the heart of American democratic values.
